Cmdr. James Jerome relieved Cmdr. Joshua Ellison as the commanding officer of the "Screamin' Indians" of HSC-6 during a symbolic airborne lead change.

Beginning his operational aviation career with HSC-6 (then called HS-6), Ellison, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, returned to the Indians in 2015 to serve as the executive officer and assumed command on September 2, 2016. He has successfully led the squadron through multiple training detachments, a full deployment workup with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and the beginning of the squadron's current deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. Ellison will move on to serve as the Air Boss aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4).

Jerome, a native of Stevenson, Washington, brings his tactical expertise to HSC-6 as a graduate of the Naval War College and the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor course. Jerome has previously served on multiple deployments with the "Providers" of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 5 and the "Red Wolves" of HSC-84. Jerome assumed duties as the commanding officer of a squadron executing its first carrier deployment since 2013.

Jerome's fellow HC-5 alumni Cmdr. Todd Pike also joined the HSC-6 team as the executive officer.